More litter being found on our beaches
Increasing amounts of litter from sweet wrappers to cigarette butts are being found on UK beaches according to a new survey.
Compensation claims for Dreamliners
Boeing, the company behind the grounded fleet of 787 Dreamliner planes, is facing millions of pounds of compensation claims.
The south on flood alert
Three Flood Warnings and more than 30 Flood Alerts are in place across the Meridian region as more heavy rain falls in the south.
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Family rescued after pan catches fire
A family from Boscombe in Dorset, asleep inside their home, have been rescued by fire crews after a saucepan caught fire. A member of the public raised the alarm after seeing smoke.
Penelope Keith to open South of England show
The region's farmers say their "strength of character will be in evidence" at this year's South of England Show in Sussex - despite having faced their worst weather for winter and spring on record.
South of England Agricultural Society President actress Penelope Keith will open the event in two weeks time.
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Immigration raid on restaurant
A Chichester restaurant is facing a heavy fine after four illegal workers from Bangladesh were arrested in a raid by immigration officers.
The India Gate restaurant on Bognor Road, Merston, was raided by Immigration Enforcement officers on Thursday evening.
Two members of staff, aged 24 and 26, were found to have overstayed their visas while two others, aged 55 and 57, had entered the country illegally.
All four are now being held in an immigration detention centre, pending removal from the UK.
The restaurant could be fined up to £40,000.
– Carla Johnson, Home Office Immigration Enforcement TeamThese arrests show that there is no hiding place for immigration offenders. The message is clear. Those who are in the country illegally will be arrested and removed.
Illegal working has a serious impact on communities, undermining legitimate businesses and taking jobs from those who are genuinely allowed to work.
Farmers vow to 'buck trend' with summer show
Despite having faced their worst weather for winter and spring on record, the region's farmers say their "strength of character will be in evidence" at this year’s South of England Show at Ardingly in Sussex in June.
Carole Hayward, chairman, said: “The quality of British husbandry and farming is superb and the show offers the opportunity to come and see first hand their work and dedication."
Visitors will be able to see over 760 examples of beef and dairy cattle, sheep, pigs and goats.
The theme for this year's show is the "world of poultry" and will be opened by South of England Agricultural Society President actress Penelope Keith.
New leader for county council
Hampshire County Council has elected Cllr Roy Perry as its new leader this morning.
It follows elections held on May 2nd and an announcement by former leader, Cllr Ken Thornber, to step down following 14 years in the post.
The Conservative councillor said: “My overriding objective will be, in the face of the difficult economic circumstances all councils face, to maintain Hampshire as a successful and prosperous county, balancing economic success with care for the environment.
"I will seek to maintain our council tax as the lowest of any county in the south east region with services amongst the best.”
Pedestrian killed in crash named
Police have named the pedestrian who died following a serious collision in Worthing as Ryan Chapman.
Mr Chapman, 29, of Goldsmith Road, Worthing, suffered life threatening injuries after the collision with an HGV on the A27 Arundel Road, Worthing, on Tuesday just after 9.30am.
He was flown by air ambulance to Southampton Hospital in a critical condition but died there on Wednesday afternoon. The lorry driver, a 42-year-old man from King's Lynn, Norfolk, suffered shock.
Police closed the A27, its junction with the A24 and the A280 for more than three hours for emergency services to deal with the incident and for the air ambulance to land.
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Police hunt for fugitive
Police are hunting for a fugitive who has absconded from prison and carried out a string of robberies.
Lyndon Stein, 49, has robbed travel agents and building societies in Avon and Somerset, Gloucestershire, Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Oxford in the past three weeks.
Stein absconded on April 29 from HMP Spring Hill, near Aylesbury, which is a Category D open prison.
The following day he committed a robbery at a hair salon.
On May 5 Stein struck again, this time at Thomas Cook in Clifton, Bristol, before making his way to Gloucester where he targeted the Leeds and Holbrook building society on May 7.
A further robbery occurred at around 2.30pm on Thursday May 9 in Bristol.
An Avon and Somerset Police spokesman said: "This week alone he has struck at Santander in Gloucestershire on Saturday and Thomas Cook on the High Street in Kingswood shortly after 4pm last night.
"His crime spree is thought to have totalled thousands of pounds.
"We'd now like to speak to Stein or anyone who knows where he is."
He is described as white, stocky and normally carries a plastic carrier bag when committing offences.
Historic street signs snapped up in Sussex auction
Some of London's most recognisable street signs, including those which have stood in Downing Street and Abbey Road, have fetched thousands of pounds at auction in West Sussex.
The distinctive enamelled Downing Street sign was bought by London-based advertising executive Trevor Beattie for £7,800, achieving far more than its estimate of up to £1,500.
And the Abbey Road sign fetched £4,350 after being bought by north London-based property investor John Antoniou as a present for his son, a musician and producer.
A collection of black aluminium finger signs which have directed tourists to world famous landmarks in the capital also went under the hammer at Summers Place Auctions in Billingshurst, and fetched £4,200.
Vodafone sales fall for first time in seven years
Newbury-based mobile phone giant Vodafone has reported its first drop in annual revenues for seven years.
Sales of £44.4 billion for the year to March 31 were 4.2% lower than a year ago, despite the firm benefiting from stronger trading in emerging markets and increased smartphone usage.
Vodafone's service revenues in southern Europe slumped 11.6% in the year, driven by economic weakness and competition in Spain and Italy, while the figure in the UK was 4% lower.
It described trading in its home market as robust and said the decline was in part due to the impact of regulatory cuts in the charges it sets other operators for terminating calls on its network.
The company gave no update on the future of its 45% stake in US operator Verizon Wireless, amid recent speculation that the firm's majority owner Verizon is preparing a deal to buy the holding.
Vodafone's share of profits from the US business rose 30% to £6.4 billion and it is due to receive a Verizon dividend of £2.1 billion next month.
Council owed millions by ferry company
Thanet Council has revealed that it is owed £3.3million by ferry company Transeuropa after it stopped sailing out of Ramsgate. The council provided financial support to the company in 2011 when it emerged it needed help to keep it going. The company has since been declared insolvent.
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